Saturday’s action comes from Cheltenham and Windsor, with the Paddy Power Gold Cup the centrepiece of the November Meeting at Prestbury Park.
Matty Sutcliffe, who has already made the case for Meetmebythesea as a Gold Cup horse, selects three for Saturday’s racing.
12:35 Cheltenham – Citipost Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-135)
Robbie Llewellyn doesn’t often send handicap chasers to Cheltenham, but the unexposed JACCOURS is of major interest.
The half-brother to Grade 1 winner Le Frimeur cost €50,000 as a store and ran some credible races in maiden hurdles for Olly Murphy, including splitting rivals rated 135 and 120, before finishing lame when a close third at Warwick next time out.
He belatedly got off the mark at Ffos Las, beating a dual subsequent winner now rated 122, but again suffered a minor injury next time out, which was perhaps still bugging him 57 days later.
He made his stable debut for Robbie Llewellyn last month and ran a career-best race to finish second over 3m4f at Ffos Las. He travelled and jumped strongly there, just appearing to weaken out of things late on.
That form has worked out very well. The winner, who he gave 12lb to, went in again next time out from a 15lb higher mark, while the third, who was seven lengths behind, went in by 11 lengths on Wednesday.
The handicapper has kept him on a mark of 122 and he looks thrown in. Billy Coonan, who has won three of his last four races, takes 5lb off, and Jaccours should strip much fitter for that last effort.
13:25 Windsor – Fitzdares Telephone & Text Betting Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers’ Hurdle Series Qualifier) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-125)
CRACK OPS didn’t get in at the weights for his intended target at Cheltenham on Friday, but this looks a more suitable test, as does the trip.
The Cracksman gelding was a work in progress last season over shorter trips, running into some subsequent smart winners in Planters Punch and They Want Me, now rated 128 and 116 respectively.
The yard stepped him up to almost three miles at Uttoxeter and he was a comfortable winner for Tristan Durrell despite walking through two out. The second has won twice since and is now rated 16lb higher, while the pair pulled 30 lengths clear of the third.
He was perhaps not suited by a field of just three on his seasonal debut at Southwell, but he bumped into a thriving, experienced mare over a trip short of his best. Now stepping back up in distance with that run under his belt, he can get back to winning ways.
14:20 Cheltenham – Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Registered As The William Holman) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)
I’m of the opinion that MEETMEBYTHESEA is a Grade 1 horse in a handicap, and connections have made no secret that he’s been tuned up for this seasonal debut.
The Watar gelding was a smart novice hurdler, finishing a close third in the valuable EBF Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown before making a winning chase debut at Wetherby last season. He took the Jack Richards in good style at Cheltenham, pulling four lengths clear of a subsequent Grade 1 winner.
The third was second in the same Grade 1 at Aintree, the fourth won the Galway Plate and the fifth would’ve gone very close in the Irish Grand National had he not fallen. The form has worked out very well, and given he’s three from three when fresh under rules (second on his sole point-to-point start), there are no concerns about him being fresh, nor about his mark.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Three to Watch for Saturday 14 November
12:35 Cheltenham – Citipost Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-135) – Jaccours 1pt EW 4 places
13:25 Windsor – Fitzdares Telephone & Text Betting Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers’ Hurdle Series Qualifier) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-125) – Crack Ops 1pt EW 4 places
14:20 Cheltenham – Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Meetmebythesea 1pt WIN
FAQs
When was Matthew Sutcliffe’s article published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s article was published at 9.30am on Friday 13 November.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GG’s newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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